Disturbing encounter in SL with racism and threats

ok so now that it's established that cristiano and malachi are not going to be slapping avs anytime soon...

what does LL do with the vocal incorrigible bigots that find their way in to SL? i recall the player who allegedly accosted kassandra on a regular basis earlier this year was still around in world after several incidents. with the abuse report tool sending undoctored chat logs and screen shots, i should expect these players permanently banned.

malachi, you should excuse cris as he was reeling from some serious racial slurs. it may just be text on the screen but the meanings it can carry can have some very physical affects! sitting alone in ones apartment at a terminal suddenly physically ill from a series of powerful verbal attacks, cristiano reached out to the SL community for comfort. i don't think it's so much a case of newsworthiness as much as looking for support and being reassured.

the BJ comment that malachi took offense to probably wasn't necessary, cris. when your recentered, i'm sure you'll agree.

Jauani,

Although BigJohn and I spar publicly, we actually do get along and I said that more tongue in cheek than anything else (and nowhere in my posts did I call him an asshole - I said I love you, BJ, having been both threatened by him in the past and called asshole, dick and pussy by him, I was making reference to that). We have had our differences, but work it out ultimately. At the end of the day, Big John is far more of an evolved human being than Malachi has shown himself to be many many times. I don't feel the need to be excused by him, or have the effects explained. Most people with an ounce of sensitivy understand it. The fact that he doesn't speaks for itself, in fact he just adds to it. Generally it is more his attempt to get a thread deleted that he doesn't agree with than anything else, all the same, it is pointless.

Ah, Cris, this sucks. I can understand why it was such a shock to have these slurs tossed at you. It also makes me wonder how many others have experienced this in-world; for every posted account there are probably a number of others that we never hear about and that, perhaps, never get reported, for whatever reason... when in fact, it is a VERY big deal.

I was recently wondering what happened to Kasandra Morgan after all her problems with racial issues in-world. I hope it wasn't this nastiness that drove her away from SL. I also hope that the Lindens take issues like this quite seriously because they can literally ruin SL for the players who feel attacked. I think transparency in the way Lindens deal with discipline issues would be a good thing in a lot of cases precisely like this.

I've already admited to being dense, so I think that one can be written off as true. I may have a reading comprehension problem, but I haven't been tested for such in a long time.

In our current culture of victimization, being called anything is offensive so long as you choose to be offended. The mental distinction between "us" and "them" has existed since before we were human and is not likely to go away simply because we think it a Bad Thing. I too have been subject to racial discrimination and vitriol and, no, it is not nice at all. But I do believe that concentrating on epithets thrown because they were easy does not imply a hate crime. A jerk crime, certainly. But a hate crime? If one chooses that course, then you have only given more strength to the doofus.

The BiGaLa community did something novel in this regard: they took the pejorative "queer" and turned it into a badge of pride. Conversely, the crippled/disabled/handicapped rhetoricians are playing Syssiphus' game by replacing one term with negative connotation with another that quickly becomes "ruined" as well.

I don't think that Cris being griefed as he reported to be a good thing; quite the contrary. Speaking as one who has been called worse and suffered physical consequences related tp it, I am somewhat less inclined to rush to Cris's side. The only point I was trying to make was that to dream of an ideal world while simultaneously working toward more diviseness was likely not helpful.

Perhaps I lack reading comprehensibility more than reading comprehension.

Cris, I am so sorry that happened to you. There is no situation that excuses that sort of behavior. NONE.

That really sucks Cris. Mal, I understand your points but I'm not sure this was the thread for it. The bottom line is that no one deserves to be treated that way by anyone, especially on their own land! Cris, if you get a chance IM me the idiot's name. I'll happily add it to my ban list

Cristiano,

I'm very sorry that this happened to you, and can quite understand how badly it made you feel. I cannot understand why scum like this still remain in second life. I would have thought that in this case the combination of racial abuse and physical threats would have been enough to get the bastard ejected from second life on a permanent basis. LINDENS - HAS THIS BEEN DONE YET, AND IF NOT WHY NOT?

As for Malachi, Foster and blaze, I think your contributions to this thread have all been unpleasant and uncalled-for, and give the impression of tacit support of racism. And we all know where that leads. I think you should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Oh yummmm, drama! Juicy little drama!
*gets out popcorn*

Mal, whatever your reasons for posting, I'm disappointed that you did. There's never any excuse for racism.

I disagree with the sentiment that we should just ignore situations like these. It's up to each and every one of us to speak out against this attitude wherever and whenever we encounter it.

Malachi, ever considered a job in hostage negotiation? I think you'd get results.. of some kind.. really quickly!

PC

Hear, Hear!!!

I have told Lecktor to his face and with aboslute sincerity, that he is the greatest cracker-head white trash hillbilly Republican that I've ever met. And I've meant it in a very serious way.

I'm one of those "whiny Northeastern liberal elite", and Lecktor and I have become quite good friends. It goes to show that if people are willing to look beyond their myopic labels and preconceived notions, there is a lot of good that can happen.

Chris... I'm sorry that this putz-head you had to deal with couldn't see beyond his myopic labels and preconceived notions. Its sad...

While this incident is disturbing, I think there are two positives here that people should keep in mind. First, its pretty clear to me that, for the most part, the SL community is pretty damn open and tolerant, and we can be thankful that people like this clown are a rare exception. The second is we should also be thankful that the Lindens and the Community Standards emphasize tolerance so much, and that its fairly easy for us to deal with this crap.

- Ace

But I was neither defending racism nor suggesting that they be ignored. I was showing that the original post, both whining about an unknown griefer and slamming someone completely unrelated in the process was a wee bit hypocritical.

And the situation wasn't ignored, it was abuse reported which is the most effective (which ain't much) one can do in SL. The only thing that transformed it into a flamefest was that a paraphrase of one brief interaction was used as a foil for a self-proclaimed pity party.

There are exactly two people whose *posts* I ever maligned in the forum - both for the same reason - hypocracy. I'm not likely to do so again as it appears that most respondants only trouble themselves to half read postings. That I have had my words here used here as in support of racism is ludicrous. That I think Cristano is a self-absorbed hypocritical blowhard is a matter of opinion based strictly on his forum posts as I (to the best of my recollection) never even met him in game.

Indeed, the forums are a microcosm in itself which bears only tangential connection to the game. I read them as they sometimes have useful information. And insofar as they can be used to discuss an event that putatively happened in game, so can they too be used to challenge those who bring their own acusations in here. And if one twists my words into saying anything about homosexuals, then one ought be prepared to defend that point and may just be making a mountain out of thin air.

So if you think that I'm as mean as has been portrayed, please re-read me, or don't and let your stance on me be guided by one extremely touchy, verbose, and reactionary poster and his adherents.

I am cacasion and it is an insult to me. Racist pigs like this need a Wanted Poster posted for all to see..and permanant kill status placed on his avatar..but im sure his account was banned if he didn't cancel it. Sounds like a Serial Killer to me..and may actually be "Wanted" by the FBI...with the attitude he has..I wouldn't doubt it. Linden should report this character to the FBI just to see if he is "Wanted".

I couldn't agree with you more.

Also..is there a permanent bann you can put on an AV so they can't comeback on your property? If there isn't..it should be.

What a fucking dweeb. You weren't even there, yet you say, "well I bet THIS is what happened." There was absolutely no excuse for the way this assclown behaved. He should be banned permamently from SL with NO SECOND CHANCES. (Assuming this kinda shit hasn't leaked outta his mouth before). Fucking buttwads like this do not belong in SL. Or in RL for that matter.

It means Foster is a poopyhead.

Don't be so sure his account was banned. While I greatly admire the Lindens, they have always been a little wimpy when it comes to banning someone.

Wasnt this thread 5 pages long when I logged in this morning?

I've been called a cracker, a whitey an Applebee's eating... oh wait...


Rascism comes in many flavors and colors, as many as there are people I suppose.
I think plain and simple its all ignorant drivel spewed by a MINORITY of asshats like the one you unfortunately encountered Cris.

Maybe I am just lucky, but the majority of people I know and associate with are indifferent to race and color, instead they judge on personality and character. I agree with you 100% though about rascism in 2004. How long is it going to take before people as a whole get over it. Its either the blacks who hate the whites, the whites who hate the blacks, the mexicans who hate the puerto ricans or the Venezuelans who hate the whining Cubans.

Did these people not use certain crayons when they made pictures as children? I mean all it amounts to is a color. Don't take it personally that he has a few faulty synapses. Most people don't care at all what color you are, just that you're respectable, polite and treat them with the same respect they would like to be treated with.

My family arrived here in the late 1600's. I can't imagine the diversity of those times all the people from around the world seeking to escape prejudices, persecution all pouring in from across the globe, though sadly rascism followed here too. I'm sure his immigrant ancestors are regretting their breeding pattern when they saw his post.


Its hilarious that he said you should speak English because I assume your entire conversation was in English. I like to point out to those people ignorant enough to babble something so petty that the U.S.A. is one of few countries in the world that have no OFFICIAL language. Not to mention the fact that most of the hispanic people I have come to meet and know, with very few exceptions speak better english than the native english speaking people. LOL!


Just know that everyone that matters in this world aren't so narrow minded and short sighted as the asshat you encountered yesterday.

P.S. I would come to FL an meet him for you, I love meeting people even confrontational people.

Best way to deal with people like that is make sure that they dont know it bothers you if it does.

Say something to him him like I LOVE YOU!!!

Not nessasarily cool, but sometimes telling fools like that how gay they are acting works No offence to gay people, but you know it just tears em up P:

This here is absolutely true! As a Cuban American (republican ) i dont get offended by being called a "SPIC" After years of mental conditioning I have trained my mind to quickly translate that to something less offensive. "Hello Good Sir, I must demand that you knock me the F$@# out, immediately." I usually give in to the polite request most quickly. Cristiano, With no H, I feel your pain Bro. Hopefully the Lindens will translate his/Her statements as "Hello Dearest Lindens, I no longer wish to play SL anymore. Please delete my account immediately. Best regards, Steamy Anus"

Interesting post as always, Malachi. I refer you back to my original post for a moment. I did not attack Big John in my post, I acknowledged that a) I have certainly fought with him, which is true b) I have been down the asshole/dick/pussy path with him, which is true, as he has posted that on more than one occasion. Pointing that out is not a personal attack. You are the one who referred to him as an asshole in your post in characterizing what I said - you put your own spin on what I said and went from there. My point in doing so was to acknowledge this is not about that type of fight, which happens all the time in SL in one way or another. Again, while certainly less verbose than you, I will give Big John credit for being a hell of a lot nicer person than you appear to be.

I did not portray you as mean - if your posts need reinterpretation because your message is lost, it is not the fault of the reader, perhaps it is because for 6 months or more, you have come across in nearly all of your posts as bitter, angry, and anti-SL. To say that you have only ever commented on two people's posts is a fabrication that any research could certainly dispel. You started publicly lashing me and calling me an asshat (a name I love by the way, thank you ) and all the other names you can come up with after I dared to stand up to you when you publicly attacked Beryl for questioning Fizik's relationship with Linden Lab. Even after having it confirmed by Robin Linden, you refused to conceed that you were in any way wrong, which is fine. Did you include Berly in the two people whose posts you commented on? Catherine Cotton? Please at least spell out your bias. Prior to that point, you are right, we had never met in game.

Your response of "Someone living in Miami who is offended by spic is a nancy-boy" is not subject to misinterpretation. You took one stereotype and added in a slur at gay people (a misplaced one, but a slur nonetheless), assuming that Hispanic people run around calling each other spic and thus have no sensitivity to it. It was not just about being called a spic, that was probably the least upsetting part of it, but you don't get to define what upsets me. You referred to your own experiences with racism, including physical effects from it. I am sorry that you have gone through that. As little as I think of you, again I would not wish that upon anyone, even you.

Cornelius,

<<Hello Good Sir, I must demand that you knock me the F$@# out, immediately>>

lol, wonderful!

Thank you for that.

I do agree, forum whining is pointless.

I proposed that Christiano actually do something and he turned me down.

Participating in whinge fest instead of actually taking action is the sort of thing that not only let people get away with this kind of thing, it encourages them to continue knowing they can get a rise out of people with no penalty.